maverick
MAV-rik · noun
English
Origin
The word comes from Samuel Maverick, a Texan lawyer and politician who lived from 1803 to 1870 and famously refused to brand his cattle.
Journey
Because his cattle went unmarked while every other rancher's herds carried a brand, his name became a byword for anyone who stands apart from the group. There's also a poker sense — a queen-jack starting hand in Texas hold'em — possibly drawn from the theme song of the 1957–1962 TV show 'Maverick,' which described its gambling hero as 'livin' on jacks and queens.'
Related words
The poker term may connect this word to the television show 'Maverick' and its theme song, though the link is only probable, not certain.